Introduction; Personal Experience

After putting together this blog for my class Just 315J Poverty and Homelessness at NEIU I have become more sensitive while watching, pictures, statistics I’ve realized how serious and important is to fight poverty, hunger and homelessness. I guess I feel more compassion and sympathize with those that are unfortunate to be in such bad spot. On the other hand, I have to admit I understand and can relate to poor people in some ways, I too have experience poverty in some level. Sixteen years ago, I can remember being a ten years old child who didn’t know anything about life. Having both parents struggling to provide the basic means. Trying to settle down in a stable home but I guess the conditions and the situation at that time didn’t allowed me and my family to do it. Waking up and not knowing if there is enough money to put in the table for a family of seven, etc. So I know what is like to be poor. Fortunately the luck of me and my family changed for good after a short period of time and those bad memories are in the past. Now I’m a grown adult and I see life differently and I learned how to appreciate things in life. I hope this blog help my audience and my class to obtain a better understanding of why and how individuals in the society are force to live in this deprived conditions, inside an invisible support system. We all are vulnerable and can be victims social inequality. We society need to learn how to overcome poverty, prevent and help those that need form us.


Music

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Poverty in Chicago

MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

Make Poverty History - Bono


Hunger Action Event with Chicago Food Depository





Poverty Definition

My definition of poverty is when a person or community is in a bad economic situation where is deprived or lack the essentials meas such as such as house, education,clean water, food, health care, clothing


The changing face of poverty

Millions of Americans live in poverty, more families are suffering and hunger is seen growing. According to the most recent Census Bureau statistics, nearly 36 million Americans lived in poverty in 2003, an increase of 1.3 million from 2002. And since 2000, 4.4 million more people in this country are living in poverty.


According to Jared Bernstein, a labor economist the U.S is facing one of the worst economic situation and we have to acknowledge that those that have money become richer and richer every day and the disparities between poor and rich are astounding, there is few that falls in the middle class and what is left is either poor or rich.


Finally, Fear and hunger walk hand in hand with poverty, and last year 12.6 million American households -- 11.2 percent of all American homes -- were afraid they might not be able to put enough food on the table, according to the Census Bureau. That's up more than 1.6 million households from the year 2000.


Author; Octavio Blanco CNN
Title; The changinf face of poverty
Date of publication December 30, 2009
CNNMONEY.COM

Chicago homeless crisis worsens with budget cuts, mass foreclosures

According to the wsws.org due to the crisis the country is facing the number of homeless people has increased dramatically in the Chicago area and the suburbs in the past moths. The Chicago Coalition for homeless estimates that “21,000 people are on the street on any given night.” So this recession is not only affecting those with homes and jobs in fact are increasing the number of poor and homeless people.

For 2010, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that homelessness is expected to grow based on rising unemployment and increased rental market competition due to foreclosures: 4.5-6.3 million if unemployment reaches 9 percent. This would represent an increase of about 900,000-1.1 million families.

Author; Kristina Betinis
Title; Chicago homeless crisis worsens with budget cuts, mass foreclosures.
Date of publication; 21 December 2009
WORLD SOCIAIST WEB SITE

Monday, February 15, 2010

Cleveland, OHIO city presentation about poverty and homelesness

The city assingned to our group is  Cleveland, Ohio. We plan on present and divide our presentation in 4 parts;  My part will be focused on Substance abuse;

SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Cleveland, OH



Demographics

  • Population (2005 American Community Survey): 414,534
  • Race/Ethnicity (2005 American Community Survey): 38.7% white; 53.8% black/African American; 0.6% American Indian/Alaska Native; 1.5% Asian; 0.0% Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander; 4.0% other race; 1.5% two or more races; 7.7% Hispanic/Latino (of any race)2
  • Cleveland is located in Cuyahoga County.
Number of Substance Abuse-Related Offenses Known to Police, Cleveland, 2004 Offense # of Arrests

Drug/Narcotic violations 5,841
Drug equipment violations 119
Liquor law violations 577
Driving under the influence 20



Drugs

􀂾Cocaine

Intelligence indicates that powder cocaine is readily available throughout the Greater Cleveland area, particularly in the lower income/inner-city neighborhoods, where many suburbanites travel to purchase the drug. Both treatment professionals and users state that cocaine is rarely used alone, with both groups describing combinations of alcohol and cocaine, cocaine and heroin and cocaine and “poppers” (amyl nitrate). Crack cocaine is reported to be extremely available and easy to purchase throughout the Greater Cleveland area. Both the quality and price of crack cocaine have reportedly decreased over the past 12 months.

􀂾Heroin

There has been a dramatic increase in the availability of heroin throughout Cuyahoga County over the past several years. The price of a bag of heroin in the inner-city is $10-15 per bag. Reportedly, the most available and popular heroin being used in the Cleveland area is black tar heroin. A black tar “ball” sells for approximately $20. Users and treatment providers report an increase in abuse of heroin within the Hispanic population in Cuyahoga County. Users report that quality heroin can be found within Hispanic neighborhoods throughout the Cleveland area.

􀂾Marijuana

Marijuana is consistently reported as easily accessible in the Cleveland area. Users and treatment providers agree that marijuana use among elementary school children continues to increase. Many parents of these children have continued to use marijuana on a recreational basis. Therefore, marijuana may not be viewed as a harmful or addictive drug by these same parents. Intelligence indicates that the price and quality of marijuana has recently risen. Higher quality marijuana sells for approximately $350-400 per ounce.

􀂾Methamphetamine

Law enforcement professionals have continued to report low and unchanged availability of methamphetamine in the Cleveland area.

􀂾Pharmaceutical Drugs

OxyContin continues to be a serious problem in Cuyahoga County despite relative lack of availability and high price. Due to the high price of OxyContin, many users

indicate transitioning to heroin because of its greater availability, cheaper price and the perception that heroin provides a better high. When available, OxyContin reportedly sells for $40-60 per 80 milligram tablet. Additionally, the synthetic painkiller, fentanyl, has been reported by users and dealers as available in Cleveland.
According to the Ohio department of alcohol and drug addiction services


In the last couple years Cleveland has :

• Increases in crack abuse among older adults in public housing, homeless people, and adolescents
• Increasing numbers of women seeking treatment for heroin abuse. Heroin availability and abuse continue to increase across the state. “Tar” heroin is now consistently available in parts of Cleveland
• Ecstasy is readily available and inexpensive.
• PCP (pharmaceutics ) continues to be a concern in the Cleveland area.
Prevention programs

In order to do this work they follow the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) prevention strategies which include:

• Information Dissemination
• Education
• Alternatives
• Problem Identification And Referral
• Community Based Process
• Environmental


SFY 09 SFY 10
Final 10.61% Reduction
Federal Fund 3G40
Prevention Services Prevention Services
ADAMHS/ADAS Board Allocation Allocation

Allen, Auglaize, Hardin $ 37,549 $ 33,565
Ashland $ 37,549 $ 33,565
Butler $ 37,549 $ 33,565
Columbiana $ 37,549 $ 33,565
Cuyahoga $ 150,558 $ 134,584
The Department distributes the majority of its prevention funds to the fifty ADAMHS/ADAS Boards through a per capita method. Per capita funds which come from the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant and state general revenue funds are used by the Boards in accordance with their community plans



OHIO DEPARTMENT OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ADICCTION SERVICES
http://www.odadas.state.oh.us/
WHITE HOUSE DRUG POLICIY
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/statelocal/oh/ohcleveland.pdf
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